9 Most Impressive Peyton Manning Records

As you may have heard, Peyton Manning joined the ultra-exclusive 500 touchdowns club over the weekend, which is kind of a big deal. The only other member is some guy named Brett Favre. And when you add this to all the other Peyton Manning records, you can make a pretty strong case that he is, in fact, the G.O.A.T.—i.e., the Greatest of All Time.

Today, for those of you who might be interested in making such a case, we bring you with this list ranking the most impressive Peyton Manning records. And making such a list was not as easy as it sounds. There are a lot of Peyton Manning records to choose from.

Ready to bask in Peyton’s greatness? Then let’s get started…

As you may have heard, Peyton Manning joined the ultra-exclusive 500 touchdowns club over the weekend, which is kind of a big deal. The only other member is some guy named Brett Favre. And when you add this to all the other Peyton Manning records, you can make a pretty strong case that he is, in fact, the G.O.A.T.—i.e., the Greatest of All Time.

Today, for those of you who might be interested in making such a case, we bring you with this list ranking the most impressive Peyton Manning records. And making such a list was not as easy as it sounds. There are a lot of Peyton Manning records to choose from.

Ready to bask in Peyton’s greatness? Then let’s get started…

A lot of “records” aren’t really records at all. Many involve drawing an arbitrary line and saying anything above this is good.

Such is the case with this one. I don’t know who decided that 4,000 yards is the benchmark for a “great” season, but that’s the generally accepted standard. And Peyton Manning has way more 4,000 yard seasons than anybody else. He sits at the top of the list with 13, while Drew Brees sits in second with eight. Marino, Brady, and Favre all have six. Moon, Rodgers, and Romo all have four. While Roethlisberger, Ryan, Schaub, Stafford, Warner, and that other Manning all have three.

But Peyton has freakin’ 13. Which is crazy.

9. Most 4,000 Yard Seasons: 13

A lot of “records” aren’t really records at all. Many involve drawing an arbitrary line and saying anything above this is good.

Such is the case with this one. I don’t know who decided that 4,000 yards is the benchmark for a “great” season, but that’s the generally accepted standard. And Peyton Manning has way more 4,000 yard seasons than anybody else. He sits at the top of the list with 13, while Drew Brees sits in second with eight. Marino, Brady, and Favre all have six. Moon, Rodgers, and Romo all have four. While Roethlisberger, Ryan, Schaub, Stafford, Warner, and that other Manning all have three.

But Peyton has freakin’ 13. Which is crazy.

Speaking of that other Manning, it just so happens that Peyton shares the record for most fourth quarter comebacks in a single season with his little brother Eli.

Of course, Peyton not only did it first, he did it twice—once in 2008, and again in 2009, both times with the Colts. However, two of Eli’s record seven fourth quarter comebacks in 2011 came in the playoffs, including Super Bowl XLVI against the Patriots. And that’s kind of impressive, too.

8. Single Season 4th Quarter Comebacks: 7

Speaking of that other Manning, it just so happens that Peyton shares the record for most fourth quarter comebacks in a single season with his little brother Eli.

Of course, Peyton not only did it first, he did it twice—once in 2008, and again in 2009, both times with the Colts. However, two of Eli’s record seven fourth quarter comebacks in 2011 came in the playoffs, including Super Bowl XLVI against the Patriots. And that’s kind of impressive, too.

Here’s another one of those records based on subjective assessments of what constitutes “good.”

Is four touchdowns good? Absolutely. But so is three, or five. Why focus on consecutive games with four TDs? Because it fits our narrative! Duh.

Seriously, though, throwing four touchdowns in consecutive games is really hard to do. Peyton leads the way with five (October 31-November 25, 2004) straight four TD games. After that, there’s Dan Marino with four and Drew Brees with three. That’s it.

7. Most Consecutive Games with at Least 4 TD Passes: 5

Here’s another one of those records based on subjective assessments of what constitutes “good.”

Is four touchdowns good? Absolutely. But so is three, or five. Why focus on consecutive games with four TDs? Because it fits our narrative! Duh.

Seriously, though, throwing four touchdowns in consecutive games is really hard to do. Peyton leads the way with five (October 31-November 25, 2004) straight four TD games. After that, there’s Dan Marino with four and Drew Brees with three. That’s it.

Passer rating may seem like a concrete stat, but it, too, is arbitrary. For example, to qualify you have to attempt at least 10 passes (why not 15?) and a completion rate of 77.5% (why not 76.5%?). So while a perfect passer rating has a specific number attached to it—158.3—not all perfect passing games are the same.

That being said, all perfect passing games are greateven if they’re not equally great. And Peyton Manning’s four perfect games are more than any other quarterback in NFL history. After him it’s Kurt Warner and Ben Roethlisberger with three and four others with two. That’s it for multiple perfect games.

6. Most Games with Perfect Passer Rating: 4

Passer rating may seem like a concrete stat, but it, too, is arbitrary. For example, to qualify you have to attempt at least 10 passes (why not 15?) and a completion rate of 77.5% (why not 76.5%?). So while a perfect passer rating has a specific number attached to it—158.3—not all perfect passing games are the same.

That being said, all perfect passing games are greateven if they’re not equally great. And Peyton Manning’s four perfect games are more than any other quarterback in NFL history. After him it’s Kurt Warner and Ben Roethlisberger with three and four others with two. That’s it for multiple perfect games.

Now here’s an impressive stat that is not arbitrary: what’s the most games you won in a row as a starter? For Peyton Manning, the answer is an insane 23.

Of course, he didn’t win the Super Bowl either of those years, nor did the Colts go undefeated. But in 23 straight regular season games that Peyton Manning started, the Colts didn’t lose. That’s not nothin’.

5. Most Consecutive Regular Season Wins as a Starter: 23

Now here’s an impressive stat that is not arbitrary: what’s the most games you won in a row as a starter? For Peyton Manning, the answer is an insane 23.

Of course, he didn’t win the Super Bowl either of those years, nor did the Colts go undefeated. But in 23 straight regular season games that Peyton Manning started, the Colts didn’t lose. That’s not nothin’.

Now we’re getting to the big ones. In 2013, Peyton Manning beat the all-time single season passing yards record set by Drew Brees in 2011…on the last day of the season…by one yard.

Of course, that wasn’t the only major all-time record Manning broke in 2013…

4. Single Season Passing Yards: 5,477

Now we’re getting to the big ones. In 2013, Peyton Manning beat the all-time single season passing yards record set by Drew Brees in 2011…on the last day of the season…by one yard.

Of course, that wasn’t the only major all-time record Manning broke in 2013…

On the second-last game of the 2013 season, Peyton Manning tied Tom Brady’s single season touchdown record with a brilliant strike to Eric Decker (above). Then, in the same game, he broke that record, throwing his 51st TD of the season to Julius Thomas (below).

3. Single Season Passing Touchdowns: 55

On the second-last game of the 2013 season, Peyton Manning tied Tom Brady’s single season touchdown record with a brilliant strike to Eric Decker (above). Then, in the same game, he broke that record, throwing his 51st TD of the season to Julius Thomas (below).

Joe Montana, Steve Young, Kurt Warner, and Tom Brady have all won the NFL MVP award two times. Jim Brown, Johnny Unitas, and Brett Favre all won it three times.

Peyton Manning? Five. Five times he has been voted the best player in the NFL. That is nuts.

2. Most NFL MVP Awards: 5

Joe Montana, Steve Young, Kurt Warner, and Tom Brady have all won the NFL MVP award two times. Jim Brown, Johnny Unitas, and Brett Favre all won it three times.

Peyton Manning? Five. Five times he has been voted the best player in the NFL. That is nuts.

At time of writing, Brett Favre’s 508 career touchdowns are still the most in NFL history. However, I’ve decided to just go ahead and declare Peyton the new career touchdowns king. Right now he sits just five behind Favre at 503. Barring a career-ending injury in the next two weeks, Peyton Manning will get to 509 this season. And when he does, it will be the greatest of all his records.

1. Career Passing Touchdowns: 509+

At time of writing, Brett Favre’s 508 career touchdowns are still the most in NFL history. However, I’ve decided to just go ahead and declare Peyton the new career touchdowns king. Right now he sits just five behind Favre at 503. Barring a career-ending injury in the next two weeks, Peyton Manning will get to 509 this season. And when he does, it will be the greatest of all his records.